Proofreading
I proofread children’s books using my decades of teacher expertise in primary classrooms.
I understand how reading and writing inform each other.
When teaching, I showed the children how to read and value well-written stories; I showed how they could improve their writing by how I modelled the way stories were structured and written. I continue to share stories as part of my tuition lessons.
Self-publishing authors: how I can help indies
If you are an independent (indie), self-publishing author of children’s books and need guidance, here is information you need to know.
Age bands of children’s books
Generally, there are a lot of ways to categorise books. But all published books have to be given BIC marketing categories, which have specified age groups based on interest level (not reading level), so publishers will categorise their books into these age groups:
0-5 years
5-7 years
7-9 years
9-11 years
12+ years
Fiction and non-fiction will be split into those age groups. Although we generally see most non-fiction for the 5-7, 7-9 and 9-11 ages.
The 0-5 age group can be broken down into 0-2 and 3-5 to specify board books or picture books.
The terminology used for each type of book:
Board books 0-2
Picture books 3-5
Early Readers 5-7
Young Fiction 7-9 (Also sometimes referred to as chapter books.)
Middle Grade 9-12
Teen 12-15
YA 16+
Genres (types) of children’s books
What genre or type of children’s story have you written? Fiction includes fantasy, horror (Goosebumps series), etc. Or real-life issues like those featuring personal and social dilemmas (by authors like Jacqueline Wilson).
Asking questions
When you enquire if I am available to help with your book, it would be useful to know what age group you are targeting. Some of my enquirers are unsure. Visit any bookshop and flick through a variety of children’s books. Choose different ranges of ages and genres. Looking at these will give you examples of how the writing and illustrations are presented.
If you are a children’s author, see my Rates page for my packages.
I have supported several independent children’s authors to self-publication (indies) as a Partner Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. See my profile page here.
Go to my Contact page to check my availability for your project.
“Many thanks to Annie for her careful attention to detail and insightful comments throughout the process of refining my manuscript.”
Molly Kirkby, indie author of Foot of the Night, middle grade novel (for 8–12 year olds)

